abroad accommodation allowance amount belgian belgium brussels bruxelles capital charge community company country degree education erasmus european family foreign french income information insurance international language months national offers office people period possible region service social speaking student students union years

The area of economical influence of Brussels groups the biggest part of the two provinces of Brabant, with strong ties to the capital, and with about 2 millions inhabitants.

The economy of the city is dominated by activities in the domain of services and public services. Activities are often dependent on Brussels being the capital of Belgium (ministers and Belgium national administrations, French and Dutch speaking communities...) and of the European Union (European Commission HQ, EU Council HQ, European Parliament...). It is also the HQ of most of the Belgium companies and the city welcome numerous regional and European branches of international companies.

In Belgium, only 3% of the working population is employed in agriculture, that does not cover the national needs : wheat, beatroot, potatoes, cattle...

The coal industries of the Haine, Sambre and Meuse are no longer exploited (except Campine). The energy possibilities are important : hydroelectric, nuclear energy (Tihange, Doel), petrol-chemical industry.

The communication network has one of the largest densities in the world. The Belgian economy is heavily dependent on external trade. Anvers is a large international port but Rotterdam is bigger.